Rotary sprinkler including means for varying rotation rate during each cycle of rotation

ABSTRACT

A rotary sprinkler comprising a housing and an inner casing containing a portion of a rotary hollow shaft which carries a sprinkler head at a first end outside of the casing. The casing is valve controlled for adjustably admitting water to the second end of the hollow shaft. The shaft portion within the casing carries a disk with a plurality of vanes upon which a jet of water may impinge for speeding up rotation of the shaft during each cycle of rotation. The vanes may be removably mounted for changing numbers and spacing of the vanes on the disk or may be turnably mounted about a vertical axis for alternately disposing them in line with the jet of water and out of line with respect to the water jet.

United States Patent [191 Felix [54] ROTARY SPRINKLER INCLUDING MEANS FOR VARYING ROTATION RATE DURING EACH CYCLE OF ROTATION [76] Inventor: Webster Felix, One Casa Court,

Central lslip, N.Y. 11722 [22] Filed: April 30, 1971 [21] Appl. No.:' 139,010

[52] US. Cl ..239/233, 239/240, 239/D1G. 1 [51] Int. Cl. ..B05b 3/04 [58] Field of Search ..239/206, 210, 240, 241, 242,

239/263, 586, DIG. l, 237, 233; 251/326 [56] References Cited Friedmann et a1. ..239/206 51 Jan. 23, 1973 2,797,964 7/1957 Alexander ..239/263 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-John J. Love Att0meyEdward H. Loveman [57] ABSTRACT A rotary sprinkler comprising a housing and an inner casing containing a portion of a rotary hollow shaft which carries a sprinkler head at a first end outside of the casing. The casing is valve controlled for adjustably admitting water to the second end of the hollow shaft. The shaft portion within the casing carries a disk with a plurality of vanes upon which a jet of water may impinge for speeding up rotation of the shaft during each cycle of rotation. The vanes may be removably mounted for changing numbers and spacing of the vanes on the disk or may be turnably mounted about a vertical axis for alternately disposing them in line with the jet of water and out of line with respect to the water jet.

11 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENlEn'JAuzs 197s SHEET 1 BF 2 3,712,545

INVENTOR. W585 TEE F L /X F/I I ATTORNEY PATENTEDJAN23I975 3.712.545

INVENTOR. WfBSTL-l? HELIX A 7' TORMEY ROTARY SPRINKLER INCLUDING MEANS FOR VARYING ROTATION RATE DURING EACH CYCLE OF ROTATION This invention relates to the art of rotary lawn sprinklers, and more particularly concerns a lawn sprinkler having a nonuniform rotational speed.

Conventional lawn sprinklers generally have a constant, fixed rate of rotation in order to saturate the ground uniformly around the sprinkler. In order to water an area larger than that coverable by one sprinkler, two or more sprinklers are generally used which are spaced apart to water the larger area. Some overlap in the areas watered by the individual sprinklers usually occurs so that some areas are oversaturated with water. The present invention is intended to correct this condition.

In accordance with the invention a rotary lawn sprin.- kler is provided with means for speeding the rate of rotation in a selected area so that less watering occurs in the selected area. During each rotation of the sprinkler head, the head may be speeded up in one or more predetermined angular portions of the rotational sweep. This desirable mode of operation is effected by provision of vanes selectively positioned around the rotary shaft of the sprinkler head and arranged to receive a jet of water whose impingement on the vanes speeds up rotation of the sprinkler head. The vanes may be removably mounted around a disk secured on the rotary shaft. Alternatively, the vanes may be pivotally mounted to swing out of the way of the water jet. In either case, any number of vanes may be positioned around the rotary shaft to speed up rotation of the shaft and sprinkler head through a desired rotational angle.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a rotary lawn sprinkler with means for varying the rate of rotation of the sprinkler in selected areas.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a variable speed rotary sprinkler having angularly positioned vanes for non-uniform angular rotation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a variable speed rotary sprinkler having a'plurality of vanes selectively positioned around a rotary shaft which are adapted to receive a jet of water and thereby increase the speed of rotation of the sprinkler.

These and other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

, FIG. 1 is a side view of lawn sprinkler embodying the invention, parts being broken away to show internal construction;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of my novel sprinkler;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view similar to a part of FIG. 1, but taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged bottom plan view of part of the sprinkler bodytaken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged horizontal view taken along line 5-5 ofFlG. l; p I

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a single replaceable vane employed in the sprinkler;

FIG. 7 is a sectionalview similar to a portion of FIG. 3 illustrating a modification of the invention; and

FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 are diagrams used in explaining the mode of operation of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a lawn sprinkler generally designated as reference numeral 20 comprising a cylindrical housing 22 on which is a top plate 24 supporting a journal or hub 26. A hollow cylindrical shaft 28 extends axially through a stationary axial sleeve 29 in the housing 22 and is rotationally supported by the hub 26. The shaft 28 carries at its upper end a water sprinkling head 30 which emits a spray of water from a nozzle 32 and rotates under the influence of water under pressure flowing upwardly through shaft 28 and striking the impact arm 25 which is returned by a tension spring 27. To the extent described, the lawn sprinkler is a conventional rotary impact sprinkler.

Now according to the invention, there is provided an annular disk 34 attached to a collar 35 which is secured by welding, screws or the like in a fixed position at the bottom end of shaft. The disk is formed with a multiplicity of radial slots 36 circumferentially spaced all around the disk. A plurality of vanes 38 are inserted in selected slots with each vane having a curved depending blade portion 40 and a mounting plate portion 42 (see FIG. 6). Each of the mounting plate portions 42 is formed with a groove 44 in opposite edges extending inwardly up to a central wall 45 such that the mounting plate portions 42 fit frictionally on the disk 34 to the wall 45 engages in the slot 36 and inner sides of grooves 44 frictionally engaged opposite sides of the disk 34. Any desired number of vanes 38 may be grouped together on the disk 34 along any desired angular, circumferential extent of the disk 34. I

Surrounding the sleeve 29 and secured thereto is a cylindrical casing 46. This casing has a hole 48 in its side and an axial hole 50 at the bottom 47 of the casing 46. The hole 50 is adjustably closed by a slide valve plate 52 carried by a guide flange 53 and engaged by a link 54 (FIG. 4). The link' 54 has a slot 58 at one end slidably engaged with a pin 60 on the plate 52. The lower end of an axially vertical rod 62 is secured to the other end of the link 54 and is rotatably supported by a bracket arm 64 secured to the side of the casing 46 (FIG. 3). The rod 62 extends upwardly through a bushing 66 in the top plate 24 of the housing 22. A handle 68 for turning the rod 62 is provided at the top of the rod. The bottom of housing 22 terminates in a collar 70 in which may be secured to the upper end of a water supply pipe 72. The valve plate 52 may be positionally adjusted by the rod 62 and the handle 68 so that the hole 50 in the casing 46 may be closed. Water enters the casing 46 through the bottom hole 50 when the valve plate 52 is moved radially outwardly from the solid line position to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 4. Water may also enter the casing through the small hole 48 in the side of the casing. The water passes through hole 48 as a jet which impinges on the blades 40 of the vanes 38 only when these vanes are in a position aligned with the axis H of the hole as indicated in FIG. 5.

During the operation of the sprinkler, shaft 28 will rotate normally at uniform speed except when the water jet from hole 48 impinges on the blades 40. Then the speed of rotation of shaft 28 and sprinkler head 30 will increase. This increase in speed of rotation occurs during only that .part of each rotation of shaft which has vanes. If for example, the vanes extend circumferentially of disk 34 through an arcuate angle of 45, then the rotation of head 30 will be speeded up through approximately 45. It is possible to insert vanes in two, three or more groups spaced circumferentially around the disk, and to vary the spacing of vanes in a group. The purpose of this arrangement will be better understood by reference to Figs. 8, 9 and 10.

In FIG. 8 there is shown schematically two identical water sprinklers and 20: each having the rotary head 30. The sprinklers water circular areas of ground, with the sprinkler heads spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of the area watered by each sprinkler. Areas A and C are watered once during each rotation of the heads 30, but common ground area B is watered twice, i.e., by both of the heads 30 during each rotation thereof. The ground would be undesirably oversaturated in area B if conventional rotary sprinklers were employed. However, here the vanes 38 are provided in each sprinkler and the sprinklers are properly positioned on the ground so that the rotary heads 30 are speeded up when they are watering common area B. As a result the area B is watered to substantially the same degree of saturation as the other areas A and C.

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8, with the addition of another water sprinkler 20b. The sprinkler 20b waters area E once and common area D is watered twice, both by the sprinklers 20a and 20b. To prevent oversaturation of the ground in the area D as well as the area B, two groups of the vanes 38 are provided in the sprinkler 20a. The sprinklers are properly positioned so that the areas B and D are watered to the same degree as saturation as the areas A, C and E even though the areas B and D are watered twice.

In FIG. 10, the sprinklers 20 and 20a again water areas A and C once and water the common area B twice. The third sprinkler 20b is now positioned so that it waters an area E once, an area D twice by the sprinklers 20 and 20b and an area G twice by the sprinklers 20b and 200. Overwatering is prevented by provided groups of vanes 38 in each sprinkler and properly locating the sprinklers. One common area F is watered three times, i.e., by sprinklers 20, 20a, and 20b. To prevent overwatering and saturation of this area, the center vanes 38" of each of the sprinklers will be more closely spaced together than are the adjacent vanes 38.

FIG. 7 shows part of another sprinkler in which parts corresponding to those of FIGS. l-S are identically numbered. Here vanes 38a are pennanently but adjustably mounted on a disk 340 which is formed with a peripheral depending flange 75 and a multiplicity of circumferentially spaced holes 76 adjacent the flange. Each vane has a curved lower blade 40a. The upper part of the blade is formed with a notch 78 having a curved camming surface 80. The side opposing surface 80 is a springy narrow blade portion 82 disposed radially inward of the flange 75.

The several vanes may be turned inwardly or outwardly radially of the disk 34a. Vane 38a at the right is turned outwardly so that its blade 40a will be disposed in the path of the water jet emitted from hole 48 in the side of casing. The left vane 38a" is shown turned inwardly so that its blade is out of the path of the water jet as the vanes turn with disk 340. By this arrangement any number of vanes may be turned outwardly around disk 34a for speeding up the rotation of shaft 28 any number of times corresponding to the number of groups of vanes turned outwardly. Furthermore, by turning out alternate vanes the spacing of the vanes turned out may be increased, so that the rotation of shaft 28 will be speeded up but not as much as when adjacent vanes are turned outwardly. In this way the operating mode illustrated in FIG. 10 may be achieved. Some vanes turned out may be more closely spaced together than other vanes as mentioned above, so that the sprinklers will rotate faster than normal when they water areas B, D and G and still faster when they water area F.

It is of course, possible to provide the sprinklers with disks having fixed, nonremovable and nonadjustable vanes. In this case, the disks will be removably mounted on the shafts 28 for replacement with others having vanes having larger or smaller numbers of vanes thereon. It should also be mentioned that although the hole 48 is illustrated as being on the side of the casing 46, it may be positioned at the top or bottom walls of casing 46.

It should be understood that the foregoing relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a rotatable water sprinkler of the type having a hollow shaft for carrying at one end thereof a sprinkler head with a moveable impact arm connected to a return spring wherein said sprinkler head emits a spray of water and rotates under the influence of water under pressure flowing upward through said shaft and striking said impact arm which is returned by said spring, the improvement comprising speed control means,

said speed control means comprising,

an annular disk mounted at the other end of said shaft, and

plurality of vanes mounted on said disk and disposed along only a circumferential portion of said disk to receive a jet of water directed thereon whereby water flows axially through said shaft and moves and is discharged through said sprinkler head and the speed of said shaft and said sprinkler head are increased when said jet of water impinges on said vanes.

2. A water sprinkler as defined in claim 1, further comprising a stationary support for said shaft;

a substantially closed cylindrical casing mounted on said support, surrounding said other end of said shaft and enclosing said disk and said vanes,

said casing having a first opening in its bottom to admit water into said shaft and having a second opening to pass said jet of water for impingement on said vanes.

3. A water sprinkler as defined in claim 2, further comprising valve means arranged for adjustably opening and closing said first opening to control the volume of water entering said casing through said first opening.

4. A water sprinkler as defined in claim 1, wherein said vanes are removably and replaceably mounted on said disk so that different numbers of vanes may be mounted on said disk.

5. A water sprinkler as defined in claim 1, wherein said disk has a plurality of radial slots circumferentially spaced around said disk, said vanes having grooved mounting plates engageably in said slots so that said vanes are removably and replaceably mounted on said disk.

6. A water sprinkler as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for turnably supporting said vanes on said disk in either of two selected positions one respectively in line with said jet of water and the other out of line with respect to said jet of water, so that the numbers and spacing of said vanes in line with said jet of water may be changed at will.

7. A water sprinkler as defined in claim 6, further comprising i a stationary support for said shaft;

a substantially closed cylindrical casing mounted on said support surrounding said other end of said shaft and enclosing said disk and said vanes,

said casing having a first opening in its bottom to admit water into said shaft and having a second opening to pass said jet of water for impingement on said vanes.

8. A water sprinkler as defined in claim 7-fur'ther comprising valve means arranged for adjustably opening and closing said first opening to control the volume of flow of water entering said casing through said first opening.

9. A water sprinkler as defined in claim 2, wherein said support comprises a cylindrical housing enclosing said shaft and said casing, and further comprises a valve means arranged for adjustably opening and closing said first opening to control the volume of water entering said casing through said first opening, said valve means comprising a slide valve plate disposed at said first opening, and a handle outside said housing operatively connected to said slide plate for adjustably positioning the same with respect to said first opening.

10. A water sprinkler as defined in claim 9, further comprising means for removably holding said vanes on said disk so that the number and spacing of said vanes on said disk may be changed at will.

11. A water sprinkler as defined in claim 9, further comprising means for turnably supporting said vanes on said disk in either of two selected positions one respectively in line with said jet of water and the other out of line with respect to said jet of water, so that the numbers and spacing of vanes in line with said jet of water may be changed at will.

a: a: g 

1. In a rotatable water sprinkler of the type having a hollow shaft for carrying at one end thereof a sprinkler head with a moveable impact arm connected to a return spring wherein said sprinkler head emits a spray of water and rotates under the influence of water under pressure flowing upward through said shaft and striking said impact arm which is returned by said spring, the improvement comprising speed control means, said speed control means comprising, an annular disk mounted at the other end of said shaft, and a plurality of vanes mounted on said disk and disposed along only a circumferential portion of said disk to receive a jet of water directed thereon whereby water flows axially through said shaft and moves and is discharged through said sprinkler head and the speed of said shaft and said sprinkler head are increased when said jet of water impinges on said vanes.
 2. A water sprinkler as defined in claim 1, further comprising a stationary support for said shaft; a substantially closed cylindrical casing mounted on said support, surrounding said other end of said shaft and enclosing said disk and said vanes, said casing having a first opening in its bottom to admit water into said shaft and having a second opening to pass said jet of water for impingement on said vanes.
 3. A water sprinkler as defined in claim 2, further comprising valve means arranged for adjustably opening and closing said first opening to control the volume of water entering said casing through said first opening.
 4. A water sprinkler as defined in claim 1, wherein said vanes are removably and replaceably mounted on said disk so that different numbers of vanes may be mounted on said disk.
 5. A water sprinkler as defined in claim 1, wherein said disk has a plurality of radial slots circumferentially spaced around said disk, said vanes having grooved mounting plates engageably in said slots so that said vanes are removably and replaceably mounted on said disk.
 6. A water sprinkler as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for turnably supporting said vanes on said disk in either of two selected positions one respectively in line with said jet of water and the other out of line with respect to said jet of water, so that the numbers and spacing of said vanes in line with said jet of water may be changed at will.
 7. A water sprinkler as defined in claim 6, further comprising a stationary support for said shaft; a substantially closed cylindrical casing mounted on said support surrounding said other end of said shaft and enclosing said disk and said vanes, said casing having a first opening in its bottom to admit water into said shaft and having a second opening to pass said jet of water for impingement on said vanes.
 8. A water sprinklEr as defined in claim 7 further comprising valve means arranged for adjustably opening and closing said first opening to control the volume of flow of water entering said casing through said first opening.
 9. A water sprinkler as defined in claim 2, wherein said support comprises a cylindrical housing enclosing said shaft and said casing, and further comprises a valve means arranged for adjustably opening and closing said first opening to control the volume of water entering said casing through said first opening, said valve means comprising a slide valve plate disposed at said first opening, and a handle outside said housing operatively connected to said slide plate for adjustably positioning the same with respect to said first opening.
 10. A water sprinkler as defined in claim 9, further comprising means for removably holding said vanes on said disk so that the number and spacing of said vanes on said disk may be changed at will.
 11. A water sprinkler as defined in claim 9, further comprising means for turnably supporting said vanes on said disk in either of two selected positions one respectively in line with said jet of water and the other out of line with respect to said jet of water, so that the numbers and spacing of vanes in line with said jet of water may be changed at will. 